Exercise apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed which may be used as an exercise device comprising a first member, a second member, a third member, and a base. The first member and the second member may be rigidly attached to the base, substantially perpendicular to the base. The first member and the second member may be gripped by an individual. The third member may be rigidly attached to the base so that the third member lies above the base substantially parallel to the base. The present invention in one or more embodiments also includes a method comprising gripping the first and second members with an individual&#39;s hands, standing on the third member which is rigidly suspended at a location over the base, and flexing a body part while standing on the third member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to improved methods and apparatusconcerning exercise equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are many types of exercise equipment known in the priorart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention in one or more embodiments provides anapparatus which may be used as an exercise device comprising a firstmember, a second member, a third member, and a base. The first memberand the second member may be rigidly attached to the base, substantiallyperpendicular to the base. The first member and the second member may begripped by an individual.

[0004] The third member may be rigidly attached to the base so that thethird member lies above the base and the third member may besubstantially parallel to the base. The individual can stand on thethird member while gripping the first and second members. The first,second, and third members may be rigid metal pipes, such as steelcylindrical pipes. The third member may be rigidly attached so that itis located about five and one quarter inches above the base. The fiveand one quarter inches are typically sufficient for an average adult toflex his feet while standing on the third member, without coming intocontact with the base. The base may be a rigid board.

[0005] The apparatus may be comprised of fourth and fifth members. Asupport device may be attached to the fourth and fifth members. Thesupport device can be used to allow an individual to lean back againstthe support device while the individual is standing on the third member.The fourth member and the fifth member can be rigidly attached to thebase, substantially perpendicular to the base.

[0006] Further members may also be connected to the third member tosupport the third member in its position above the base. The supportdevice may be comprised of a flat board. The base may be a flat board.

[0007] In one or more embodiments the third member and the base may beplaced in a receptacle which is able to retain a pool of warm water. Thefirst and second members may be placed at least partially in thereceptacle.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, first and second shoes are providedeach of which have soles having bottom surfaces. The bottom surface ofeach sole of each first shoe may have first, second, and third channels.The third member may at least partially fit into any of the first,second, or third channels of either the first or the second shoes. Thechannels help the first and second shoes to grip the third member sothat an individual does not slide off of the third member whileexercising.

[0009] The first channel of each shoe may be located near a heel portionof the sole of each shoe. The second channel of each shoe may be locatedcentrally on the bottom surface of the sole of each shoe. The thirdchannel of each shoe may be located near a toe portion of the sole ofeach shoe.

[0010] The present invention in one or more embodiments also includes amethod comprising gripping the first and second members with anindividual's hands, standing on the third member which is rigidlysuspended at a location over the base, and flexing a body part whilestanding on the third member. The body part flexed may be for example aknee or an ankle. The individual may be standing in a pool of warm waterin a receptacle while standing on the third member.

[0011] The present invention also includes a method of standing on thefirst member which is rigidly suspended at a location over a base, whileleaning back on the support device, and flexing a body part, such as ajoint or joints of a leg, while standing on the first member and whileleaning back on the support device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a perspective diagram of an apparatus in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of soles of right and left shoes foruse with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3A shows a right side view of the left shoe of FIG. 2;

[0015]FIG. 3B shows a left side view of the left shoe of FIG. 2;

[0016]FIG. 4A shows a right side view of the right shoe of FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 4B shows a left side view of the right shoe of FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 5A shows an individual in a first state wearing the left andright shoes of FIG. 2 and using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 5B shows the individual of FIG. 5B in a second state; and

[0020]FIG. 6 shows a back view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a perspective diagram of an apparatus 10 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 10includes members 12, 22, 40, 50, and 70, base 30, and support 60. FIG. 6shows a back view of the apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 may include anoptional tub or receptacle 90 which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.The tub 90 would be capable of retaining water. The tub 90 may havesides 92, 93, 94, and 96, and a bottom 95. The tub may have a topopening 92 into which an individual can step and into which water can bepoured.

[0022] The members 12 and 22 may be identical. The member 12 may haveends 12 a and 12 b. The member 22 may have ends 22 a and 22 b. Themembers 12 and 22 may be rigid metal pipes, such as steel metal pipes.End 12 a of the member 12 may have a cap 14 placed on it, such as aplastic cap. Similarly end 22 a of the member 22 may have a cap 24placed on it, such as a plastic cap. End 12 b of the member 12 may beinserted into an attachment means 16. The attachment means 16 may be ametal pipe coupling which includes inner threads. End 22 b of the member22 may be inserted into an attachment means 26. The attachment means 26may be a metal pipe coupling which includes inner threads. Ends 12 b and22 b, may have outer threads, which can be screwed into the means 16 and26 so that the members 12 and 22 can be attached or detached from themeans 16 and 26.

[0023] L-shaped bracket 34 may be fixed to the base 30 by screws such asscrews 35 b and 35 a. L-shaped bracket 34 may include members 34 a and34 b. L-shaped bracket 32, shown in part in FIGS. 1 and 6, and identicalto L-shaped bracket 34, may be fixed to the base 30 by screws, such asscrew 33 a shown in FIG. 1 and screw 33 b shown in FIG. 6. L-shapedbracket 32 may include members 32 a and 32 b shown in part by thecombination of FIGS. 1 and 6. The L-shaped brackets 32 and 34 may bemetal steel L-shaped brackets. The attachment means 16 and 26 may bewelded to members 32 a and 34 a, respectively.

[0024] The member 70 may have a first end 70 a connected to a coupling74 and a second end 70 b connected to a coupling 76. A member 73 may beconnected to the coupling 74 and to a coupling 72. A member 77 may beconnected to the coupling 76 and to the coupling 78. The couplings 72and 78 may be welded to the members 34 a and 32 a, respectively. In thismanner the member 70 may be connected to the base 30. The members 73 and77 may be substantially perpendicular to the base 30 while the member 70may be substantially parallel to the base 30. In this manner the member70 is suspended, held, or fixed above the base 30.

[0025] The members 70, 73, and 77 may rigid pipes, such as steel metalpipes. The couplings 72, 74, 76, and 78 may be rigid metal couplings,such as steel metal couplings. The members 70, 73, and 77 may havethreaded first and second ends which connect or attach to theappropriate couplings by being screwed into the couplings and which canbe detached from the couplings. The member 70 is connected in a manneras shown in FIG. 1, so that the member 70 is at a higher level than thebase 30. The member 70 may be at a level which is D2 inches higher thanthe base 30 as measured along a line perpendicular to the base 30 and tothe member 70 as shown by FIG. 1. D2 may be about five and one halfinches. The distance D2 allows the average individual's foot to beflexed when placed on the member 70.

[0026] The members 40 and 50 may be identical. The member 40 may haveends 40 a and 40 b. The member 50 may have ends 50 a and 50 b. Themembers 40 and 50 may be rigid metal pipes, such as steel metal pipes.End 40 a of the member 40 may have a cap 44 placed on it, such as aplastic cap. Similarly end 50 a of the member 50 may have a cap 54placed on it, such as a plastic cap. End 40 b of the member 40 may beinserted into an attachment means 46. The attachment means 46 may be ametal pipe coupling which includes inner threads End 50 b of the member50 may be inserted into an attachment means 56. The attachment means 56may be a metal pipe coupling which includes inner threads. Ends 40 b and50 b, may have outer threads, which can be screwed into the means 46 and56 so that the members 40 and 50, respectively, can be attached ordetached from the means 46 and 56.

[0027] The attachment means 46 and 56 can be welded to the members 32 aand 34 a, respectively. The base 30 may be a solid rigid board, such asa wood board.

[0028] The support 60 may be a solid rigid board, which may be attachedto the member 40 by U-shaped brackets 47 and 48 (shown in part in FIG.1), plate 49, and nuts 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, and 41 d shown in FIG. 6. Ends47 a and 47 b of U-shaped bracket 47 may have outer threads onto whichnuts 41 b and 41 a, respectively, can be tightened. Ends 48 a and 48 bof U-shaped bracket 48 may have outer threads onto which nuts 41 d and41 c can be tightened. The support 60 may also be attached to the member50 by U-shaped brackets 57 and 58 (shown in part in FIG. 1), plate 59,and nuts 51 a, 51 b, 51 c, and 51 d, shown in FIG. 6. Ends 57 a and 57 bof U-shaped bracket 57 may have outer threads onto which nuts 51 b and51 a, respectively, can be tightened. Ends 58 a and 58 b of U-shapedbracket 58 may have outer threads onto which nuts 51 d and 51 c can betightened. In this manner the support 60 can be attached or detachedfrom the members 40 and 50. The support 60 can be attached to themembers 40 and 50 with screws, nails, glue, or in any other knownmanner.

[0029]FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a bottom surface 102 of a sole 103or lower portion of a right shoe 100 and a bottom view of a bottomsurface 112of a sole 113 of a left shoe 110 for use with the apparatus10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3A shows a right side view of the left shoe 110 ofFIG. 2. FIG. 3B shows a left side view of the left shoe 110 of FIG. 2.FIG. 4A shows a right side view of the right shoe 100 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4Bshows a left side view of the right shoe 100 of FIG. 2.

[0030] The bottom surface 102 of the sole 103 of the right shoe 100includes channels 104 a, 104 b, and 104 c, which make an overall patternin the form of the letter “Z”. Similarly the bottom surface 112 of thesole 113 of the left shoe 110 includes channels 114 a, 114 b, and 114 c,which make an overall pattern in the form of a backwards letter “Z”. Thebottom surface 102 of the sole 103 can be described as including a toeportion 102 a, a central portion 102 b, and a heel portion 102 c. Thechannel 104 a roughly divides the toe portion 102 a from the centralportion 102 b. The channel 104 c roughly divides the central portion 102b from the heel portion 102 c.

[0031] Similarly, the bottom surface 112 of the sole 103 can bedescribed as including a toe portion 112 a, a central portion 112 b, anda heel portion 112 c. The channel 114 a roughly divides the toe portion112 a from the central portion 112 b. The channel 114 c roughly dividesthe central portion 112 b from the heel portion 112 c.

[0032] As shown by FIGS. 3A and 3B, the left shoe 110 includes an upperportion 116 and a sole 113. The bottom surface 112 is at the bottom ofthe sole 113. The upper portion 116 has an opening 116 a in which a footis inserted and a tongue portion 116 b. Similarly, as shown by FIGS. 4Aand 4B, the right shoe 100 also includes an upper portion 106 and a sole103. The bottom surface 102 is at the bottom of the sole 103. The upperportion 106 has an opening 106 a into which a foot in inserted and atongue portion 106 b.

[0033]FIG. 5A shows an individual 200, such as a man or a woman, wearingthe left and right shoes 110 and 100 of FIG. 2 and using the apparatus10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5B shows the individual 200 in a second state. Theindividual 200 is represented by a stick figure. The individual 200 hasan upper left arm 202 connected to a lower left arm 204 connected to aleft hand 206. The individual 200 also has an upper right arm 212connected to a lower right arm 214 connected to a right hand 216. Theindividual has a torso 220 including a back 220 a. The individual has anupper left leg 232 connected to a lower left leg 234 which may includean ankle 234 a. The individual has an upper right leg 222 connected to alower right leg 224 which may include an ankle 224 a. The individual 200has a left foot which is inserted into shoe 110 and a right foot whichis inserted into right shoe 100. The left and right feet are located atthe end of lower left and right legs 224 and 234, respectively, but forsimplification purposes are not shown in detail.

[0034] In operation, the individual 200 grasps and holds tightly ontothe member 12 with his left hand 206 and the member 22 with his righthand 216. The individual 200 steps up onto the member 70. The individual200, in one embodiment of the present invention, places the left andright shoes onto the member 70 so channels 104 c and 114 c fit on top ofthe member 70. The channels 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, 114 a, 114 b, and 114 cmay each have a width W1, shown in FIG. 2, which may be about the samesize as the width W2 (shown in FIG. 1) (the diameter if the member 70 isa cylindrical pipe) of the member 70. The channels 104 a, 104 b, 104 c,114 a, 114 b, and 114 c may each have a depth of D1, shown in FIG. 3A,which may be about one half of the width W2 (the diameter if the member70 is a cylindrical pipe). In this manner, a channel, such as channel104 c can be fitted on top of the member 70, with a portion of themember 70 being inserted into the channel 104 c. This helps to preventthe shoe 100 from sliding off of the member 70, while the individualflexes a body part, such as the ankle 224 a or the knee at the joint ofupper leg 222 and lower leg 224.

[0035] In FIG. 5A, the right shoe 100 is shown placed on the member 70so that a portion of member 70 is inserted into the channel 104 c andthe left shoe 110 is shown placed on the member 70 so that a portion ofthe member 70 is inserted into the channel 114 c. From the position orstate shown in FIG. 5A, an individual can flex his feet or ankles, suchas ankle 224 a to cause a shoe, such as right shoe 100 to rotate or flexto a different state, as that shown in FIG. 5B. In this manner theindividual 200 can exercise his feet or ankles.

[0036] From the position or state of FIG. 5A, the individual 200 can domany exercises. For example, the individual 200 can do a squat, bendingdown while holding the members 12 and 22 and keeping the shoes 100 and110 on top of the member 70. A squat would flex the knees or jointsbetween upper legs 222 and 232 and lower legs 224 and 234, respectively.The individual can flex one or both ankles or feet 224 a or 234 in amanner similar to that shown by FIGS. 5A to FIG. 5B. The individual 200can also lean back onto the support 60 so that back 220 a is touchingsupport 60. In this position the individual 200 can also flex his anklesor feet 224 a or 234 a, or bend the knees to do a squat.

[0037] The tub 90 may contain warm water and the individual 200 have hisfeet 224 a and 234 a inside the water in the tub 90. The tub 90 may befilled with water to the top of sides 92, 93, 95, and 96.

[0038] Although the invention has been described by reference toparticular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes andmodifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Itis therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a first member; a second member; athird member; a base; wherein the first member and the second member arerigidly attached to the base, substantially perpendicular to the base;and wherein the third member is rigidly attached to the base so that thethird member lies above the base and the third member is substantiallyparallel to the base.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first,second, and third members are rigid pipes.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the third member is rigidly attached at a distance of about fiveand one quarter inches above the base.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1further comprising a fourth member; and a fifth member; wherein thefourth member and the fifth member are rigidly attached to the base,substantially perpendicular to the base.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4wherein the third member is rigidly attached to the fourth and fifthmembers.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the fourth and the fifthmembers each have first and second ends; wherein the fourth and thefifth members are rigidly attached to the base at their first ends; andwherein the fourth and fifth members are rigidly attached to a supportdevice at their second ends.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein thesupport device is comprised of a flat board.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the base is a solid board.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a receptacle which is able to retain water; and wherein thebase and the third member are located in the receptacle and the firstand the second members are located at least partially in the receptacle.10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first shoe having asole with a bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface of the sole ofthe first shoe has a first channel; and wherein the third member atleast partially fits into the first channel of the first shoe.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10 further comprising a second shoe having a solewith a bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface of the sole of thesecond shoe has a first channel; and wherein the third member at leastpartially fits into the first channel of the second shoe.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the bottom surface of the sole of thefirst shoe has a second channel; and wherein the third member at leastpartially fits into the second channel of the first shoe.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 further comprising a second shoe having a solewith a bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface of the sole of thesecond shoe has a first and a second channel; and wherein the thirdmember at least partially fits into the first channel of the second shoeand at least partially fits into the second channel of the second shoe.13 The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bottom surface of the sole ofthe first shoe has a third channel; wherein the third member at leastpartially fits into the third channel of the first shoe; and wherein thefirst channel and the second channel are joined together by the thirdchannel.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first channel of thefirst shoe is located near a toe portion of the first shoe.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the first channel of the first shoe islocated near a heel portion of the first shoe.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein The first channel is centrally located on the bottomsurface of the sole of the first shoe.
 17. A method comprising grippingfirst and second members which are rigidly attached substantiallyperpendicular to a base; standing on a third member which is rigidlysuspended at a location over the base; and flexing a body part whilestanding on the third member.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein thebody part flexed is a knee.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the bodypart flexed is an ankle.
 20. The method of claim 17 further comprisingstanding in a pool of warm water in a receptacle while standing on thethird member.
 21. A method comprising standing on a first member whichis rigidly suspended at a location over a base, while leaning back on asupport device; and flexing a body part while standing on the firstmember and while leaning back on the support device.
 23. The method ofclaim 21 wherein the body part flexed is a knee.
 24. The method of claim21 wherein the body part flexed is an ankle.
 25. The method of claim 21further comprising standing in a pool of warm water in a receptaclewhile standing on the first member.